Many smaller European towns and cities are named after their founders, often dating back many hundreds of years. Often, there is not much known about them today. In Europe and South America, it is common practice to name (and often rename) birthplace towns for political leaders or distinguished figures. There are other cases of this phenomenon present across the continents, especially in regions dominated by a hegemonic political ideology, such as Communism, Conservatism, Imperialism, or Fascism.